End-of-Project Innovation Exchange

Concurrent Sessions

Presenters, discussants and panelists are subject to change.

The Art and Science of Family Planning Policy Advocacy

When the Health Policy Project was inaugurated in 2010, the FP policy landscape appeared much different than it does today. In the past five years, several transformational initiatives—including the Ouagadougou Partnership, FP2020, and the Sustainable Development Goals—have inspired and renewed commitment to family planning among the international community and country governments. During this session, speakers Ellen Starbird and Jay Gribble will share perspectives on the evolving context for FP policy and HPP's role within it, with a focus on capacity development, evidence generation, and advocacy. Following a case study of lessons learned and best practices in the development of costed implementation plans (CIPs) for family planning, participants will be invited to join interactive small group discussions about the "art and science" of developing advocacy messages that advance CIP goals. The session will conclude with a panel conversation about future directions for FP policy advocacy to promote successful implementation and accountability.

Pathways to Sustainability: Health Financing Reform

This session looks at three country cases to illuminate different experiences of health financing reform and how this reform may lead to universal health coverage. Tanzania, Kenya, and Afghanistan have taken different paths and are at various stages in the reform process, but their experiences reveal similar challenges and opportunities in policy making and implementation. Session presenters and discussants will examine several themes, including (1) an increasing shift away from a top-down, centralized budget allocation structure to models with a variety of financing sources, thereby leading to greater health-related fiscal autonomy at the subnational level; (2) reduced aid dependence and a shift to more sustainable health financing; (3) the maturation of pre-payment mechanisms such as health insurance; and (4) challenges in developing a pro-poor health financing system while moving away from tax-funded public health systems.

HIV, Policy, Advocacy and Human Rights: Challenges and Approaches

While achievements have been made in the response to HIV—having 15 million people currently on treatment and a number of recent breakthroughs in prevention and treatment medications—the stigma associated with HIV and the human rights of those most vulnerable to HIV continue to be a challenge to controlling the epidemic. Over the past five years, HPP has worked to build the capacity of governments, service providers, and civil society to advocate for policy reforms, improve advocacy and accountability, and promote dialogue and learning on the human rights of vulnerable populations. This session will focus on HPP's work in these three areas and invite discussion around what efforts are still needed as we collectively work to ensure a human rights-centered HIV response.